How to take a full power kick to the groin? (Eye watering video!)

A video added to the website by BRITON55 (Steve) that I’ve moved here (because it deserves a thread of its own). Not something to try at home! It’s impressive to take such a blow to be sure. However, I like the way a scientific theory is put forward as a potential explanation as opposed to automatically accepting it must be something “magical”.

Without getting overly graphic, we are all aware the items being impacted do “hang loose” and are pretty movable. The skeptic in me thinks that suitable underwear would bring the testicles to the front and, while still hit, it will be after the pelvis has taken the brunt of the force and the testicles will be moved up into free space as opposed to crushed against the pelvis. Not that I really want to see how this is done, but that would be my guess ;-). Still impressive to take such a blow to the pelvis, but I doubt very much that the testicles were caught between the foot and the pelvis in this footage otherwise they would have been crushed flat. I have seen videos of this group before. Here is another below (the bit in question starts 34 second in):

While they can definitely take some solid shots, I've seen plenty of well trained people do that will no mention of ki or chi. Kyokushin fighters, for example, do it all the time (although not to the groin and throat). The throat thing does not impress me at all though as it looks very much like the throat is not being hit to me. If you slow the footage down you can see they are predominately slapping the chest (see freeze frame below of 0:58), hence the loud slapping sound, and the web of the hand is merely touching the throat.

Slow any of the throat shots down and let me know if you can see any direct blows to the throat? I could not. Am I getting too cynical in my old age? ;-) I hope not. I do however feel that talk of “magical feats” are damaging to the reputation of the martial arts and that we’d be way better off if we concentrated on solid training. It’s always a divisive subject and I think the way forward is simply for both sides to present their views and leave it for people to make up their own minds. Do I see an impressive physical feat here with regards to the groin shot? Sure. Do I see evidence of a mystical force breaking the laws of physics? Personally, no I do not.

The strike using the webspace between the thumb and 2nd finger allows much of the impact to be absorbed by the sternocleidomastoid muscles of the neck. Those are the strap like muscles that border the trachea and extend from the base of the skull down to the suprasternal notch. building up those muscles give a bit of a 'sidebuffer' to the trachea, and and actually give some cushion to a frontal imipact if they are built up. However, there is really no muscular protection directly over the trachea and larynx. I imagine that the results would be far different if you used a vertical spearhand to hit the trachea directly...

Got to question the sanity of anyone who stands and takes a kick in the nuts.

As to taking damage to the throat, even more insane IMO. I'm no THOR but the people I've kicked in the nuts and/or punched in the throat were definately not able to continue their attacks. Obviously they weren't KI masters ...

Reminds me of being at school (early eighties)and boys being boys would wait till one of their mates were stood leaning against a wall with their legs slightly apart and as they walked past they would knee them in the nads right to the bone. The pain was unbelievable. It then turned into 'i'm so going to get you back' time so we had teenage lads kneeing each other in the cods left right and centre. To this day I can still remember the pain and if any one suggested in a class that we should try a kick in the cods I would pass.

I would go with Gary says in that I couldn't do anything(couldn't even speak) after I got knee'd in the nads other than grab them and count them and make sure they were still there with an expression of 'shock and awe' at the pain I was in.lol

Dont like mysticism in martial arts it does it no favours...sometimes you can just smell the bullsh** oozing out to the cameras...body conditioning always needs mental strength and courage to withstand any impact ....in martial arts you only need the 20-80 rule for success...that is 20 percent of what you learn will produce 80 percent of benificial outcome.......[probably ]. humble opinion only..... ime not a doubter i live and breathe martial arts, but have had to witness and listen to so much c**p over the years about secret this and mystical that, ancient sources for the chosen few etc my cynisism rose to the top...but ime alright now

Anyone know where to find videos of these guys in real fights? I though one of them fought in one of the early UFC's and got chocked out, but I can't find it anywhere. I would like to see any video of this used in a real fight.

Having been doing martial arts for over ten years now i can say that nothing here is new or impressive. Most of the shots to the body could easily be taken by anyone who has done physical conditioning whether you are kyokushin/kickboxing/kung fu etc. I have also spent ten months in China seeing all these "mystical" feats. I would like to suggest that people here watch Derren Brown do any of his shows to see similer acts of hypnotic suggestion a very good control of his own mind. Notice how all these students have to 'prepare' themselves before being hit. On a TV show called "Mind Body and Kick Ass Moves" Chris Crudelli shows some of these himself but states that he wouldn't be doing that "down the pub".

I love it when the narrater said "after five years and thousands of kicks to the nuts", wouldn't a simple side step have been easier?

Neil
p.s The bloke who got kicked in the nuts bust be mental, no sane man would ASK to kicked in the crown jewels.

Have you noticed the alarming obesity that frequently affects those guys who claim to have developed "their personal martial art" or to have achieved "their full potential"? Is that a by-product of the accumulation of chi in their stomach? People who train regularly tend to be in good shape more often than not. Please somebody explain.

The strike using the webspace between the thumb and 2nd finger allows much of the impact to be absorbed by the sternocleidomastoid muscles of the neck. Those are the strap like muscles that border the trachea and extend from the base of the skull down to the suprasternal notch. building up those muscles give a bit of a 'sidebuffer' to the trachea, and and actually give some cushion to a frontal imipact if they are built up. However, there is really no muscular protection directly over the trachea and larynx. I imagine that the results would be far different if you used a vertical spearhand to hit the trachea directly...

there was another clip from the same show where that 6'8 MMA fighter hit's the guy with a shuto to the throat and not a web hand strike. The blow was measured around 650 lbs. of force to it.

Anyone know where to find videos of these guys in real fights? I though one of them fought in one of the early UFC's and got chocked out, but I can't find it anywhere. I would like to see any video of this used in a real fight.

Sometimes I hate Google.

Dom

There was a fighter in UFC 7 named Ryan Parker who claimed to be an iron shirt person. He lost by gi choke to Remco Pardoe (sp?).

Have you noticed the alarming obesity that frequently affects those guys who claim to have developed "their personal martial art" or to have achieved "their full potential"? Is that a by-product of the accumulation of chi in their stomach? People who train regularly tend to be in good shape more often than not. Please somebody explain.

LOL

That made me spit my coffee out. I think some people just live the dream (and eat the pies). In any event this setting yourself before a strike is just so (searches for inoffensive word ...) STUPID.

I wonder if it works against a knife or a broken bottle? If it's the only trick they've got they might come up short in a real brawl. I'll take a bet on fitness over chi any day of the week, at least you can run like ****

I think i have something usefull to contribute to this discussion, all being personal oppions from me:

Martialart - martialsport - the idea is what your training will prepare you to do and what not to do, what to expect to develop or not to.

Look at this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-5SVkgRTVs (can someone help me insert it directly into the thread). I think we all know who Genki Sudo is - these guys can definately take alot of punishment! Its "all" about the mindset and the ability to control "fear". Look at some of the systema guys.

I have recently taken up the concept of Kote Aite (pain absorbing techniques). Because i saw a developement of my own ability to control pain and fear, derived from the indirect training - but i still need alot - so if i can focus on this and make it more specifik and controlled - i think i will be able to transfer the output of the training to a fighting situation.

Perspectivating: If you train Kote Aite (pain absorbing techniques), it is - as everything, important to what the goal is - i see the above video by Iain and the video from Juko Kai i have posted more as a personal developement, and the ability to comprehend "crazy" goals, through martialarts. Just like it could be a nice feat to perfom a 100 pushups.

Personally i would and do any day, preffer to train Kote Aite, like the systema guys does - no need to prepare, they just get wacked, battered and beaten - mostly when unprepared. If someone wish me to elaborate i can do so - but perhaps this should be in a different thread?

Anyways, i flinch far less from bumps and sudden pain in everyday life, such as my girlfriend accidently wacking a knee in my nuts, dropping pots and pans per accident on my feet, standing up straight into an open shelf or getting wacked by my squash partner, with the raquet. (yes im pretty unlucky everyday standard!). But i have over the years stopped flinching, but i think its because of the different pain tresholds. Again different thread?